He Knows My Name

Can you imagine going into labor almost 6 weeks early and then when you finally fully come around, you have not one baby but two? That's what happened to my mother. We were born at a time with twins were a rarity. Until we were in the fifth grade, we were the only twins in our elementary school. If I remember correctly, we were only one of three sets of twins in my high school.

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Seriously, God Left Me a Note -- Hope Chronicles 54

One of the perks of working at Barnes and Noble is meeting lots of neat people. Since they have come into a bookstore, we often have a similar love for books. One of the drawbacks is that people you have known at previous times and previous life situations sometimes pop up. (The background you need here is that I've volunteered and worked in social service for numerous years.)

Needless to say, someone from a previous life situation showed up the other night. Sigh. They totally stared at me. At first I thought they were trying to place me and I decided to hide behind a stack of books I was reshelving. I knew I hadn't been their favorite person in the past. As recognition dawned, her face hardened even more.

Since I was working customer service, I decided it was as good a time as any to take my break. I called and got permission and hid in the break room. But the uneasiness lingered. It wasn't that I thought they would do anything or necessarily say anything, but I like being liked. I tried my best with the families I worked with, but social service is an occupation fraught with awkward and challenging situations.

Add to that it was late and we were busy and I was tired. I felt my self confidence level begin to drop. All too soon, I had to get back on the floor.

Recently, I went to She Speaks. It was an incredible time and did wonders for my confidence level on an interpersonal as well as a faith level. Lysa Terkeurst commented to me that I had blossomed over the Internet the last few months. Blossomed. What a nice word.

I started putting the table in front of customer service back to rights. My eyes fell on the words, "Amy Bloom Away." I did a double take. I read it again. It took reading it three times to realize the author's name was Amy Bloom and the title was Away.

I haven't a clue if this a good read or not, but it seemed to me that God left me a note. I had to chuckle for all the times I've thought, "Please God, just tuck a note under my pillow. It would help so much." While it was sweet to hear it from Lysa and in various other ways from other people, I found those three words utterly confirming and encouraging.

As I've worked on these Hope Chronicles, I've discovered that God speaks in everyday things more frequently than I have ever imagined. I suppose the question all these years is if I've been tuned to the right frequency.

I found great hope in having God write that note to me. Though the author and publisher may think differently, I have no doubt that God knew one night I would need the reminder.

In what way has God spoken to you lately? If you want you can leave a comment or click on Mr. Linky and post about it on your blog. Either way, I'd love to hear!

Sign Post #3

Periodically, I like to point you to a great post or story. This one is espcially cool because it involves my friends and my pastor! So, if you want to know what an instance of selflessness for a stranger looks like hop over to my friend Jill's blog by clicking here.

I hope all of you had a wonderful 4th of July!

Declaration of Dependence -- Hope Chronicles 53

It is one of the most famous documents in American history -- the Declaration of Independence. It was approved by the original 13 colonies on July 4, 1776. At 232 years of age, the United States of America is still in it's adolescence when compared to countries like China, England, Russia, . . . .

I've never known anyone who can recite the whole thing. However, most people are taught or at least recognize this bit of it:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

It was a noble venture into founding a country. But even though our money clearly states, "In God we trust," at this point in our history the question is, "In which god do we trust?" Yes, we needed to declare our independence from England, but sometimes I wonder if we wouldn't have been better served declaring our dependence on God.

Here is my attempt at a Declaration of Dependence.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people are created in the image of God. It is within their nature to crave, even unknowingly, a return to a right relationship with their creator and Lord.

Where upon sin entered the world, people are unable to attain their hearts' desire. No amount of work, intelligence, or trying can bring them back into a right relationship with God.

We hold this truth to be most wondrous, that God chose to became a man. He came and walked this earth, felt the sting of hunger, the cold of night, the joy of the sunrise, the hug of mother, the betrayal of a friend.

We hold this truth to be most magnificent, that "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) This love is for the world yet totally and inexplicably personal. Salvation was accomplished through Jesus death on the cross to pay for our sin.

We hold this truth most humbling, that the God -- who created the world and has the right to command anything He chooses from His creation -- gives us a choice to choose or reject him.

We recognize the fact that every breath, every heartbeat, and everything about our being is solely dependent on He who gave us life. We declare our utter dependence on the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

We stand in awe of his majesty and eagerly await His return.

This is hope -- utter dependence on God.

If you want to "sign" this Declaration of Dependence, leave a comment below.

Old Letter

In my search for Ecuador (see yesterday's post), I unearthed some other treasures. One was a letter from my Grandma Brooke. Her given name was Clara Louise, but she always went by Louise. Though, my grandpa called her "Weezy." I am fortunate to have been named for her with my middle name being Louise.

Above is the back of the last letter I received from her. It was dated 4/29/1996. While the front is a bit about this or that cousin, the back is the piece I will cherish and stung my eyes with tears.

Seems as tho you are a busy girl. I feel like you are busy about all the time. I think of our days on the farm when you came down to visit. They were happy days for me & I am glad I have them to remember. Well I better close so I can mail this. Hard to tell where you will be but you'll get it someday. ha ha I think Amy is our Traveling Girl.

Well love to you
Think of you a lot
Love G-ma Brooke

In the midst of an abusive family situation, my dear grandmother was an oasis. We went to visit once or twice a month. At ten the abuse had escalated and I was sad and lonely and very, very quiet. You could barely get "Boo" out of me.

One day, I discovered that if I got up early and sat in the green chair outside her bedroom, she would look up and see me and get up. Together we would go into the kitchen. She would mix up a coffee cake and I would talk. It was as if all the words so carefully walled up in me just spilled out. While I never mentioned the abuse, she heard all of my childish dreams. I read quotes from books I was reading. I recited a poem. I told her about how Mrs. Richardson let us act out our fourth grade Ohio history lessons. I told her I liked Mrs. Richardson the best of all my teachers cause she reminded me of her.

For 15 or 20 minutes on those mornings, I had her undivided attention. It was a raft in a wild sea. Too soon I would hear my sisters' footsteps on the stairs and I would have to share my grandma.

Never underestimate the power of a few minutes undivided attention in the life of a child. It kept me afloat.

Yes, grandma, I remember those days too. You loved me well and I am a better person for it.

Lots of love,

The Search for Ecuador -- Compassion International

There was a theory out there years ago saying that we are all only separated by six degrees. I don't know if that was ever founded or unfounded. I find it hard to believe that at any given time I am six degrees removed from the President of the United States or the Queen of England.





Still, it is a nice theory to think that we are all so intimately connected.





While I may doubt the six degrees, I do believe that we are intimately connected on God's level. He helps people and things fall into place in ways that we could never plan!





Karrie was one of my roommates at She Speaks. As luck (or should I say God?) would have it, she is heading to Ecuador in a couple of weeks with her church. Like me, she sponsors a child in Ecuador. They are working on getting it set up so that she and her daughter can meet Gazella.





Of course, my thoughts started turning. What if they could meet my little girl, Delia? Could they take something to her?





Compassion International would love for us to be able to send things through the mail, but with things needing to go through customs, we are limited to small, flat, light items. So, I've been confined to sending a page of a coloring book, a few pictures, a bookmark, stickers, etc. These are all things that seem to delight Delia, but her birthday was June 1 and I so longed to send her so much more.





Compassion International does allow birthday gifts of a sort. You send a bit extra and the staff in the country appraise the needs and get the child something. I was happy to do this, but I longed for that personal touch.





So, I've been corresponding with someone from Compassion and talked to someone today. If I can get some things together and get them to Karrie, Karrie can hand them off to the staff that accompanies her child. Since it will already be in country, that staff will be able to eventually get the items to Delia.





I was on cloud nine thinking of it all afternoon. What could I send? It still must be light and easy to carry. As I talked about it with Julie, I decided that my first tactic would be to scout out my house. So, I've turned the place upside down and come up with several items for Delia as well as her family. As luck (and God) would have it, they are all very light and portable. I think the only things I might be picking up are a few pretties for her long hair and some hard candy that she can share with her friends.





God even helped me stumble on something I think is appropriate for her father. It's a very small pair of quality binoculars. When I was on staff with InterVarsity, there was a foundation that gave to my support. They always sent along birthday and Christmas gifts. Sometimes it was book. Other times it was this nifty little gadgety tool thing. Once, they sent binoculars. I had stowed them away, it seems, for just such a time as this.





Please pray that things continue to get worked out so that these small tokens can get to Delia. The are small tokens of my care for her and her family. More than anything I want her to know God's love.





Do you have a child with Compassion International? Please tell me about him or her!

Heaven is a Little Brighter

This weekend I heard some sad news. A mentor, of sorts. of mine has gone to be with Jesus. I'm sure heaven is brighter, it leaves those of us down here in a bit more darkness. But my bet is that, Jo Ann would say "Nope" to that. She spent her life spreading God's love and word and her memory will live on in those she disicipled.

Jo Ann and Don Fields were what we called "lifers" with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. They met and married in their 30's and raised two beautiful daughters. I always wondered at how the students rallied around her when she spoke. She was several generation away from them. But even if she didn't understand all of their lingo, she understood the struggles of the heart, she understood they needed Jesus. So, she faithfully presented the gospel year after year after year.

One talk I particularly remember her giving was on singleness. She spoke on how she was 30 and single and wanting to be married. Where I get sometimes down and out about my lack of a significant other, she looked at it a different way. I said, "What if God wants me to be single for the rest of my life?" She told God that she would let him worry about the rest of her life and she could be content for today with being single.

She was a lady who found her contentment in Jesus.

So, heavens are a bit brighter. I can imagine Jo sitting down with Jesus and soaking up everything he had to say.

Jo leaves behind Don, two daughters, and several grandchildren. Please pray for the.

But pray for all of us that like Jo, we can be content for the day for whatever our circumstances.